Flexible roadway



March 3, 1931 H. 'B. MISSILLIESR FLEXIBLE ROADWAY Filed July 11, 1930 WITNESSES March 3, 1931. H. B. MISSILLIER I v FLEXIBLE ROADWAY Filed July 11, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I INVENTOR Ha I 'y Miss L'ZZIJer Z1 3 2 gill 2o 4 25 124 ATTORNEYS WITNESSES Patented Mar. 3, 1931 v unifies-' STATES HARRY B. MissILLInn,

iyeazzs oF cLEvELAND, oHIo FLEXIBLE ROADWAY Application filed July 11,

This invention relates to a roadway construction.

The invention has for its general object the provision of a roadway traversable by power v 6 driven vehicles or automobiles, which is constructed to lower and rise at different points by the weight and translatory movement 01 the vehiclestraveling on it, to give to the vehicles a wave-like motion for the amusement and pleasure of the occupants of the vehicles.

The roadway of the character mentioned may be built as an adjunct of public highways to be used by those traveling in automobiles, or it may be built in amusement parks for use in conjunction with power driven vehicles open to use by the public. The use of the roadway may be subject to the payment by the users of a toll for the maintenance or upkeep thereof, and also for profits for the owners in return for the amusement and pleasure derivedby the users.

The nature of the invention and its distinguishing features and advantages will appear when the following specification is read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a side elevation of a section of a flexible roadway constructed in accordance with the invention; r I V Figure 2 is a plan view with parts removed to show underlying structure;

Figure 3 is an enlarged side elevation of one o t the rockers and associated parts certainof which are shown in section; I

Figure 4: is a transverse section on the line 1-41 of Figure 3;

Figures 5 and 6 are sections showing certain details.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be apparent that in accordance with the invention use will be made of a series of rockers'lO arranged at preferably regular intervals along the ground. Each of the rockers in the present instance COIlSlSlZS of segmental parts 11 presenting an upper convex contour. The parts 11 are tied or fastened together in spaced side by side relation in a suitable manner such asby tie rods or 1 each rocker.

zeachcable being secured in any practical.

' and bolts and plates 26; The structureltl 1930. Serial No. 467,310.

Eachrocker is "mounted for rocking it movement on means in the form of a trans- Versely disposed shaft 13 secured to the member 11, and said shaft 18 is journaled on bear ings 14 each of whichis-anehored in a suitable concrete base or pier 15 fixed or set in the ground. 7 r

In accordance with another feature of the invention each rocker is cushioned at each end so as to prevent sudden rocking movement or" the rocker,but to makeit rock smoothly under the weight and momentumof an automobile. This is accomplished in the present instance by the provision of pneumatic-mechanical devices each consisting of a cylinder 16 set in the ground, a piston 17 which operates in the cylinder, a rod 18 pivotally connected with the piston, and the rod 18 being pivotally connected with one of the rods 12. There are two devicesapplied to each end of In accordance with anotherieature, there .is provided a continuous flexible structure .19 which is supported by the rockers 10, and

which is traversable :by the vehicles. The structure 19 comprises'planks or the like 20 and stout cables 21 on which said planks are fastened transversely thereof. The cables 21 are laid side by side in spacedrelation, and

80 manner to the ,uppermostand centrally located rod 12 of eaclrrocker 10, asv by the use'of sleeves 22 arrangedoi'l the rod. 12, plates 23, and nuts and bolts 24, thelat'ter extending through certain of the plaulrs 20, and also through the plates 23,.the latter being disposed in contact with the sleeves with bolts 24: on opposite sides of the sleeves. Each plank 20 is secured tothe cable 21 by nuts is preferably provided with guard rail. or cable 27 along each side thereof, which is supported 'by posts 28 arranged at. regular inter-- vals. Each post 28 is of J-shape and extends through a metal end member 29 on the particular plank in engagement with one of the .cables 21, and secured in place by a nut 30 and its'threaded end. 7

. It is to beunderstood that-the structure 19 bolts 12 secured in place by nuts or thelike'. as applied to the rockers lO presents a eer- 1.29 V

tain amount of slack between the rockers. T he provision and arrangement is such that an automobile travelingalong on the structure 19 will be compelled to follow an undulated course, or in other Words, Will be caused to travel hill and dale, or be given a wave-like motion, by reason of tlJG-VBI'bICfll deflection otthe structure '19 du-e to th'e rocking movements of the rockers 10 and the weight and momentum otthe automobile.

hat is claimed is:

1. A roadway including a flexible road structure traversable by a vehicle, and spaced rockers having upper curved surfaces supporting said structure so that it may flex vertically to give a wave-like motion to t he vehicle while traveling on said structure.

2. it. roadway comprising a continuous flexible structure traversable by a wheeled vehicle, a series of spaced rockers mounted on means having fixed relation to the ground, said structure being secured to said rockers and having an amount of slack between said rockers, the provision and arrangement -'being such as to give a wave-like motion to the vehicle while traveling on said structure.

3. A roadway comprising a continuous flexible structure traversable by a wheeled vehicle, a series of spaced rockers mounted on means having fixed relation to the ground,

said structure being secured to said rockers and having an amount of slack between said rockers, the provision and arrangement 'being such as to give a Wave-like motion to the vehicle while traveling 011 said structure, and means cushioning the rocking movement of each of said rockers.

41. A roadway comprising a continuous flexible structure traversable by a wheeled vehicle, a series of rockers arranged at regular intervals along the ground, each rocker having an upper convex contour, said flexiblc structure being arranged on said rockers, means securing said structure to .each of said rockers to prevent displacement of said structure but allowing said structure to flex relatively to said rockers, the provision and arrangement being such as to give a wave-like motion to the vehicle while traveling on said structure.

5. A flexible roadway comprising rockers arranged at intervals on the ground, cables laid side by side in spaced relation across said rockers and secured thereto with slack be tween the rockers, and planks or theli-ke secured on top of the cables across the same.

6. A flexible roadway comprising rockers arranged at intervals on the ground, cables laid side by side in spaced relation across said rockers and secured thereto with slack between the rockers, planks or the like secured on top of the cables across the same,

and guards cables or the like seouliedat ep- 7 posite sides of the roadway to certain o-f'the 

